Love, love, love: A.J. Ellis, the Dodgers’ catching god (Web links)

While breathlessly awaiting news of Johnny Depp’s next movie in caked white makeup, a look at the Dodgers around the Web:

-- It’s getting be a regular A.J. Ellis lovefest out there. I told Ellis that I was going to have to find something to rip him about, simply to bring him back to planet Earth.

Not that he’s not deserving of high praise — his .455 on-base percentage is fourth in the majors, he’s batting .322, and, with Matt Kemp down, his 15 RBIs are actually second on the club.

And then there’s his excellent work behind the plate and his growing leadership role.

Which has led to an almost embarrassing amount of flowers being thrown at his feet, many championing an admittedly long-shot bid to be an All-Star.

Ken Gurnick at Dodgers.com said Ellis was playing like an All-Star, but because of a lack of name recognition it would require an actual campaign for him to make the NL roster.

Which is just fine with Jon Weisman at ESPN and Mike Petriello at Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness, both more than happy to beat the drum.

And he gets the Q&A treatment at Grantland, Jonah Keri comparing Ellis to Crash Davis and writing: “A.J. Ellis is laying waste to the National League.”

-- If you thought Tuesday’s lineup was on the interesting side, check out Wednesday’s against the Padres: Tony Gwynn (CF), Elian Herrera (2B), Bobby Abreu (LF), Andre Ethier (RF), Jerry Sands (1B), Adam Kennedy (3B) and Matt Treanor (C). Lucky Chris Capuano.

For those counting at home, that’s one opening day starter (Ethier).

-- Josh Suchon, the former Dodgers Talk cohost, has written a terrific post on his unusual personal path with Orel Hershiser. It’s on his new blog, Out of Ink, which he shares with Matt Hurst, the ex-Angels beat writer.

-- Tony Jackson at ESPN L.A. thinks Chad Billingsley loses focus when he gets frustrated.

-- Abreu tells The Times’ Jim Peltz he’s happy playing with the Dodgers.

-- Robert Timm at Dodger Dugout has a very different view from mine on the new owners’ start.

-- Eric Stephen at True Blue L.A. thinks trying to fill the hole at third with both Juan Uribe and Jerry Hairston Jr. on the DL may prove even more challenging to the Dodgers than the loss of Kemp.

-- Mark Ellis has been named the American Legion Graduate of the Year.

-- San Francisco Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins thinks the NL West race is still going to come down to the Dodgers and Giants.

-- The Dodgers are hosting a fanfest in connection to Dodger Stadium’s 50th anniversary on Saturday.

The event starts at noon and runs until the 7 p.m. game time. Most players and coaches will sign autographs, plus Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrin are scheduled to make appearances. Tommy Lasorda will host a … Lasorda Wine tasting.

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Love, love, love: A.J. Ellis, Dodgers’ catching god (Web links)